The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-10
The New Lines, if Built, Will Be Put
in Operation Within a Year.
A Mass Meeting Expresses Sympathy for the
Striking Car-Drivers, and Demands that
Johnson's Charter Shall Be Revoked.

1
investigation of the conditions in needs of tn,
| people, its probable value as an investment ane
| the chances of procuring charter can CO. Al
| are judged by Col. w. W. Dudley, who is her.
| in the interest of New York company, to b.
| favorable. His inclination is decidedly towards
building the road. But" said he s'there are
many things to consider before the project car
be termed one of fact see reason, though
why indianapolis should not support a line Of
that character. All I say now is thai
the idea is one of investigation. | have beer
to-day all the city, and, while Colone
johnson has the cream of the business, all Other
things being equal, it is very probable the cable
line will be built We will not ask for close
charter if it is finally decided that the invest
ment shall be made. The arteries of travel
here are the avenues. These have been pre-
empted, but think there is enough in the
growth of the city and the wishes of the people
to warrant the undertaking"
las to the wishes of the peopleqr
Il have talked with many representative citi-
zens to-day. and. without exception l received
nothing but the heartiest encouragement. 1t is
desired particularly the part of suburban
residents. It will be the purpose. doubt to
develop a system of branch lines. We expect to
come into competition with the Johnson lines,
but of course cannot get privileges of streets
where his tracks are laid
''Will the work be supported to any extent by
local capital?'
Eyes; but the money will come mostly from
the East. The outlay will be 81, 500. 900, or ST.,
O00 000 1t is costly system to construct, but,
when once laid and in operation. the advantages
far exceed those of the ola horse cars. The su-
perior equipments, the rapdity and of
travel, make the calle cars more popular than
any other. Even if compelled to lay
routes less desirable streets, considered as
arteries of travel, will doubt be able to
secure a very large proportion of streetcar pat
ronage. AS far as possible, it will be the object
to make every part of the city accessible to the
cable lines. The system would be in
complete without this. and further,
the people can be assured that if the road is
built it will be first-class in construction aud
equipment. The system will be like that in ST.
Louis, which is superior in many points to the
Chicago cable lines. III construction there will
be little grading to do Indianapolis is
city of magnificent distances. The only draw
back we have to meet in construction lies in the
sewers. In fact, the city, as l learn from the
city engineer, has no definite plan of sewerage.
The cableine conduits must be kept clear
hence the company will have to largely make its
own sewers"
'.If the charter is granted and you decide to
build the road. at what time would it be COM
pletedF
''If we get ordinance right away we
would wish to have the time of beginning the
work extended During the winter we could get
everything ready for construction early next
spring, and have the road completed by June
1888 The system requires
many details of manufacture in rails,
take much time We will have no wood in the
tracks: everything will be either iron, steel or
concrete. The space between the rails and the
cable conduit will be packed in concrete. The
rails will be so laid not to tear off buggy
wheels or in terfere with vehicles in any way.
But, after ALL this is telling of things that are
am pursuing. 1 say this, though, that the
inclination is very strong to give Indianapolis q
cable road"
In regard to the routes to be followed, the
Colonel said they had not been selected. but it
is understood that the enterprise is further ad-
vanced than the Coonels statements would lead
one to think. There is no doubt about the ordi-
nance of right-of-way being prepared for an
early introduction in the Council. 1t will prob
ably define three routes as the beginning of the
system, one by double track from the railroads
another-also double track-up Alabama street.
to the same terminus, and the third
down Pennsylvania street to Garfield
Park. The officers of the company
are New York capitalists, the president being c.
D. Ingersol, the vice-presdent c. s. Beardsley,
the treasurer Edwin Beach. who is also
the secretary B. French Lloyd. The general
manager is q. B. Boyer of Philadelphia The
executive committee consists of Messrs. Inger-
soil Beach. Beardsley, Col W. w. Dudley and
a lawyer and brother of the president of the
Woodruff Sleeping-car Company. In addition
there is board of trustees. the members of
which, in addition TO the president. vice-presi-
dent and Colonel Dudley, are ex- Governor Cur
tin of Pennsylvania; John III. Davies, of New
York, banker; Henry L. Storke, of Yonkers.
and president of the Hudson-river Telephone
Company, and Edward r. Baerp, of New York
Sympathy for the Striking Drivers.
Mozart Hall could not have held many more
laboring men than gathered there last night to
express their sympathy with the crusade against
johnson and his street railway. The audience
was we'll spriukled with ladies. Thomas Gruelle
presided, and in calling the meeting to order
said the object was to hear the grievances of the
drivers, and have remarks from citizens who fa-
vored their cause. The workingmen he said. had
become a great power, and were in a condition
to compel men to treat their employees humanely.
Mr. johnson would feel that power before the
fight against him was over.
The first speaker James II. Orrall, one of
the strikers. He said he had been asked many
times if the enforcement of the ordinance
curing the drivers to cali the streets was the
cause of the strike. 1t not; but it was the
last straw that broke the camers back. The
men had long been dissatisfied, but they thought
it best to quietly bear their burdens When
a conductors work was heaped upon them they
resolved to stand the outrages longer.
They had four causes for striking, namely
The hours they worked, the wages they
were PAID, the the aouse from the road oHlcers,
and the buying of their own caps and whips.
Perhaps the most Objectionable of the causes
was the abuse from the road officers. II pas
senger got and did not put his fare in the
box the driver was asked why it was not there,
and if no explanation could be given he was laid
off for several DAYS. Mr. Orrall thought the
only way to make Col johnson come to terms
was to put him of the city. The. Council
should be watched. and when election day comes
the men who are subscribing his interests should
be defeated.
-
for the strike an opposing street-car line would
never have been thought of. johnson had got
too proud to treat with the executive committee.
and they had got too proud to treat with him,
until he came to them He had always been a
stakeholder, both before and since he began
operating street-car lines The executive COM
mittee, the speaker said, could take every man
off the cars tomorrow If they desired to- The men
were anxious to quit, but the committee wanted
them to drive. They only wished they could
get out more cars. The more the company runs
the more money they lose. 1t was the purpose